Surgical apparatus

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus includes an actuating device including an elongated shaft. A tool assembly is disposed on a distal end of the shaft. The tool assembly includes a first jaw member supporting a cartridge assembly having a plurality of surgical fasteners, and a second jaw member supporting an anvil. The first jaw member is movable in relation to the second jaw member between a spaced position and an approximated position. One of the first or second jaw members includes a cantilever at a proximal end thereof. A firing cam bar assembly is slidably disposed within the tool assembly and includes a cam surface configured to engage the cantilever to move the first and second jaw member towards the approximated position and a distal end configured to deploy the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
 a handle assembly; 
 an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle assembly; and 
 a reload coupled to the elongated shaft, the reload including:
 a tool assembly including a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first jaw member supporting a cartridge including a sled and a plurality of fasteners, and the second jaw member supporting an anvil; 
 a sled pusher assembly configured to contact the sled, the sled pusher assembly including an elongated support member having an aperture defined therethrough; 
 a drive beam assembly configured to move the first and second jaw members from a spaced position to an approximated position; and 
 a latch assembly coupled to the drive beam assembly and releasably coupled to the sled pusher assembly, the latch assembly including a latch having a protrusion, 
 wherein when the protrusion is received within the aperture, the sled pusher assembly and the drive beam assembly are releasably coupled to one another such that movement of the sled pusher assembly effects corresponding movement of the drive beam assembly, and when the protrusion is disengaged from the aperture, the sled pusher assembly is uncoupled from the drive beam assembly such that the sled pusher assembly moves independently of the drive beam assembly. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the latch assembly includes a latch body coupled to the drive beam assembly, and the latch is pivotally secured to the latch body. 
     
     
       3. The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the latch body includes a longitudinal aperture, and the elongated support member is positioned through the longitudinal aperture. 
     
     
       4. The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a proximal wall portion configured to engage the protrusion when the protrusion is received within the aperture to maintain coupling of the drive beam assembly and the sled pusher assembly with one another. 
     
     
       5. The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the latch assembly includes a spring configured to bias the protrusion into the aperture. 
     
     
       6. The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the latch assembly includes a lateral offset extension configured to move the protrusion out from engagement with the aperture against the bias of the spring. 
     
     
       7. The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive beam assembly includes a drive beam and an I-beam coupled to a distal end of the drive beam, the I-beam translatable through the tool assembly to move the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
       8. The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the I-beam includes a notch defined through a side wall thereof, and the sled pusher assembly includes a sled pusher coupled to a distal end of the elongated support member, the sled pusher positioned within the notch of the I-beam to align the sled pusher with the sled of the cartridge. 
     
     
       9. A reload for use with a surgical stapling apparatus, the reload comprising:
 a tool assembly including a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first jaw member supporting a cartridge including a sled and a plurality of fasteners, and the second jaw member supporting an anvil; 
 a sled pusher assembly configured to contact the sled, the sled pusher assembly including an elongated support member having an aperture defined therethrough; 
 a drive beam assembly configured to move the first and second jaw members from a spaced position to an approximated position; and 
 a latch assembly coupled to the drive beam assembly and releasably coupled to the sled pusher assembly, the latch assembly including a latch having a protrusion, 
 wherein when the protrusion is received within the aperture, the sled pusher assembly and the drive beam assembly are releasably coupled to one another such that movement of the sled pusher assembly effects corresponding movement of the drive beam assembly, and when the protrusion is disengaged from the aperture, the sled pusher assembly is uncoupled from the drive beam assembly such that the sled pusher assembly moves independently of the drive beam assembly. 
 
     
     
       10. The reload of  claim 9 , wherein the latch assembly includes a latch body coupled to the drive beam assembly, and the latch is pivotally secured to the latch body. 
     
     
       11. The reload of  claim 10 , wherein the latch body of the latch assembly includes a longitudinal aperture, and the elongated support member of the sled pusher assembly is positioned through the longitudinal aperture. 
     
     
       12. The reload of  claim 9 , wherein the aperture of the elongated support member has a proximal wall portion configured to engage the protrusion of the latch when the protrusion is received within the aperture to maintain coupling of the drive beam assembly and the sled pusher assembly with one another. 
     
     
       13. The reload of  claim 9 , wherein the latch assembly includes a spring configured to bias the protrusion into the aperture. 
     
     
       14. The reload of  claim 13 , wherein the latch assembly includes a lateral offset extension configured to move the protrusion out from engagement with the aperture against the bias of the spring. 
     
     
       15. The reload of  claim 9 , wherein the drive beam assembly includes a drive beam and an I-beam coupled to a distal end of the drive beam, the I-beam translatable through the tool assembly to move the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
       16. The reload of  claim 15 , wherein the I-beam includes a notch defined through a side wall thereof, and the sled pusher assembly includes a sled pusher coupled to a distal end of the elongated support member, the sled pusher positioned within the notch of the I-beam to align the sled pusher with the sled of the cartridge. 
     
     
       17. The reload of  claim 9 , further including:
 an outer tube; and 
 a shaft assembly housed within the outer tube, 
 the sled pusher assembly and the drive beam assembly supported within the shaft assembly. 
 
     
     
       18. The reload of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft assembly includes a stop positioned to contact the latch assembly during distal translation of the drive beam assembly to limit further distal translation of the drive beam assembly. 
     
     
       19. The reload of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft assembly includes a ramp portion configured to contact the latch assembly and pivot the latch out of engagement with the aperture of the sled pusher assembly when the drive beam assembly and the sled pusher assembly are translated distally so as to allow the sled pusher assembly to move distally in relation to the drive beam assembly.